Mixing apparatus



Oct. 30, 1962 Filed April 1, 1959 c. J. TINCHER ETAL MIXING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2o 42 la 57 s I 9 I a ,3? in I /Z a /4 INVENTORS CHARLES J. T/NCHER Do- 0. COLE AGENTS United States Patent Ofiice 3,061,284 MIXING APPARATUS Charles J. Tincher and Don D. Cole, both of Danese Rte., Rainell, W. Va. Filed Apr. 1, 1959, Ser. No. 803,477 6 Claims. (Cl. 259-178) The present invention relates to mixing apparatus, and more particularly to portable, light weight, mixing apparatus for use in preparing mortar, plaster, and like materials in a finished state.

The present day practice generally used inpreparing mortar, plaster, and similar materials is to employ a large mixing box in which the cement and sand or dry plaster and sand and any other additional dry ingredients, such as, for example, lime, that may be required are thoroughly mixed. The mixing of the ingredients in a dry state is accomplished manually by employing several laborers who continuously comb or dig through the mix with hoes until the materials appear to be in a properly mixed state. To place the mortar or plaster in a wet state suitable for useby the brick mason or plasterers, water is slowly added to the dry mixture and continuously worked by the hoe until the material is of the desired consistency. This practice possesses many disadvantages. For example, the

manual mixing requires considerable time to place the plaster or mortar in a finished state ready for use. Further, there is no assurance that the batch will be properly mixed when done manually, thereby oftentimes resulting in mortar or plaster which will not possess the desired strength when used.

Some attempts have been made heretofore to provide mechanical mixing apparatus for combining the cement or mortar ingredients in a proper state and to produce mortar or plaster in a finished state. However, such machines likewise have possessed certain disadvantages. Such prior machines have been quite complicated in design and in operation. This characteristic results in a high initial cost as well as high operational costs, thereby detracting from the overall usability of the machine from an economical standpoint to anyone other than large contractors. Further, such prior machines have been quite cumbersome and heavy, and have necessitated the use of heavy trucks 'for carrying the machines from job to job. Moreover, due to the size of the equipment, the mortar or plaster must be mixed outside thereby necessitating the carrying of the formed mortar or plaster within the building by hand or elevators where it is to be used. Another disadvantage with prior mechanical mixers is that the mixing blades used therein, which consist of vertical paddles on a horizontal axis, do not insure a thorough admixing of the dry ingredients with one another in every distance since the difference in the Weight and physical state of the dry ingredients has not been considered. Mortar, plaster and lime or its equivalent each is of a different consistency, physical state, and grain size than the sand which is employed. For example, cement is very finely divided and has a tendency to flufi up or rise during its admixture, thereby resulting in a layering of the two dry ingredients. With prior equipment a continuous and long mixing operation is required in order to reasonably obtain the proper admixing of the dry ingredients to produce a proper plaster or mortar.

In the elimination of the foregoing related disadvantages, a principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and novel mixing apparatus for use in preparing mortar or plaster in a final finished state ready for use.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of mixing apparatus for mortar, plaster or the like that is very light weight and may be transported easily in a passenger vehicle.

' 3,961,284 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 sion of mixing apparatus for mortar, plaster and the like that may be taken, due to its compactness and light weight, to the immediate area where the mortar or plaster is to be used.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of mixing apparatus for use in making plaster, mortar,

' and the like tna'tis readily available to a small contractor .means to drive said gear means.

and is economically feasible to employ regardless of the size of the'job.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of mixing apparatus for preparing mortar, plaster and the like quickly and easily and in a large volume, thereby making it particularly desirable in large construc- =tion jobs.

, Stillanother object of the present invention is the production of a mixing apparatus for use in making plaster or mortar having new and improved means for combining the cement or plaster with the other required dry inother end of and to said frame means, vertical shaft means extending centrally through said base means and terminating adjacent the wheel means, agitating blade means secured to said shaft means for rotation in a horizontal plane, gear means in operative relationship to the upper free end of said shaft means for rotation of same, and

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means in the carrying out of the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed. 7

The present invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the acompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mixing apparatus made in accordance with the present invention illustrating the apparatus ready for use in a mixing box, the mixing apparatus being enlarged in ratio to the mixing box.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the mixing apparatus made in accordance with the present invention with the gearing and motor removed to illustrate the mounting of the handle.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the mixing apparatus made in accordance with the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, with the motor removed;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on lines 4-4 illustrating the relationship of the mixing blades used in the mixing apparatus made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, an illustrative embodiiment of a mixing apparatus made in accordance with the present invention and generally designated by reference numeral is shown. The mixing apparatus 10 is provided with a frame generally deignated by reference numeral 11, and includes four vertical leg members 12 which are spaced from one another defining a square or rectangular area. The vertical legs 12 are united to one another by a plurality of tie rods 13 which span the distance between the legs. The tie rods 13 are threaded at each end and are provided with a pair of nuts 14 at each end thereof, with each pair of nuts being separated from one another by the vertical legs 12. This arrangements permits the legs to be maintained in a rigid state. It is to be clearly understood that the tie rod arrangement is merely a preferred form for insuring the maintenance of the vertical legs 12 in an erect state, since there are other means for accomplishing this purpose. For example, a plurality of rods, plates, or the like may be welded to each pair of legs at spaced points thereon.

The bottom end of each pipe is provided with a wheel mount 15 which may be in the form of a separate attachment or the vertical legs 12 may be split, farming a vertically extending slot therein. A shaft 16 extends therebetween and a knife edged disk wheel 17 is mounted thereon for rotation therewith. The knife edged wheel 17 should be provided with a sharp peripheral surface, if possible, in order to permit the free movement of the wheels through the dry or wet mix in a manner which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The opposite end of each of the vertical legs 12 is provided with a threaded stud 18, each of which possesses a diameter less than the diameter of the vertical legs 12. This arrangement provides means for receiving and retaining a base plate to the legs 12. This is accomplished by providing an opening at each corner of the base plate 20 which is so positioned that when the plate 20 is placed over the vertical legs 12, the openings will be in registery with the vertical studs 18, with the studs passing therethrough. To look the base plate 20 in position, a nut 19 is threadably positioned on each stud 18, thereby insuring the rigid positioning of the base plate 20 to the vertical legs 12. This construction results in a rigid, portable cart assembly.

The base plate 20 is provided with a central opening 21 therein through which a drive shaft will be positioned in a manner to be more particularly described hereinafter. A pair of opposed vertical plates 22 are positioned on opposite sides of the base plate 20 adjacent one end thereof. Each of the vertical plates 22 is provided with an opening 23 to provide means for detachably receiving a handle 24 which will provide means for pushing the mixing apparatus 10 through the ingredients to be combined. The handle 24 includes an elongated shaft 25 and a pair of opposed metal arms 26 secured at one end of the shaft 25 by any suitable means, such as, for example, bolts or the like. The arms 26 each is provided with a foot portion 27 which extends outwardly in opposite directions with respect to one another. The arms 26 are flexible such that when the assembly is to be connected, the arm portions 26 are flexed inwardly in the direction of one another, with the foot portion of each being placed in registry with the openings 23 in the opposed vertical plates 22. The arms 26 are permitted to resume their normal position thereby causing the foot portions 27 to snap into the openings 23. The foot portions 27 are preferably circular in configuration such that each may be free to rotate with respect to the openings 23 and the vertical plates 22.

To limit the vertical movement of handle 24, a U-shaped strap metal blocking member 28 is associated with the base plate 20 between the vertical plates 22 and the end edge thereof. The U-shaped member 28, as illustrated, will be mounted such that the spaced vertical legs 29.thereof will be mounted on the threaded portions :18 by means of lock nuts 27a, and each extend upwardly along each side of the base plate 20. The vertical legs 29 are connected to one another by a cross strap 30 which extends across the base plate 20 in spaced relationship thereto, and will lie across the arms 26 of the handle 24. Thus when the handle 24 is raised too far upwardly in a vertical direction, the cross strap 30 will prevent any further movement when the arms 26 of the handle 24 strike thereagainst. The handle 24 may be detached from the base plate 20 merely by inwardly flexing the arms 26 until the foot portions 27 are out of engagement with the holes 23 of the vertical plates 22. It is to be understood that the strap metal blocking member 28 may be mounted in other ways. For example, the vertical legs 29 may be bolted directly to the base plate 20 adjacent the corners thereof.

The blade assembly generally designed by reference numeral 31 comprises a vertical shaft 32 which is of a length sufficient to extend from above the base plate 20 through the opening 21, and to a point just short of the level of the bottom of the wheels 17. The bottom free end of the shaft is provided with a strap metal cross member 33 which when secured to the shaft will have its bottom surface lying a fraction of an inch above the level of the wheel 17 in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter. The bottom cross member 33 is provided with a centrally positioned collar 34 into which the bottom free end of the vertical shaft 32 will engage and be retained therein by means of a locking screw 35 or similar locking means. This construction will enable the bottom cross plate 33 to be vertically adjustable slightly with respect to the vertical shaft 32 to compensate for wearing of the wheels. A top cross plate member 36 of substantially the same dimensions as the bottom cross plate member 33 is secured to the vertical shaft 32 at a point below the bottom plate member '33. The top cross plate member is provided with central openings through which the shaft 32 extends, with the top cross plate member being provided with a collar 37 secured to the top cross plate member 36 around the opening therein and will be secured to the shaft 32 in a fixed position by a locking screw or similar locking means. This will enable the top cross plate member 36 to be vertically adjustable to the same extent as the bottom cross plate member 33. It is very important in order to provide proper mixing that the bottom cross plate member 33 and the top cross plate member 36 lie at substantially right angles to one another since this enables the blade of the blade assembly to be contoured in a particular manner which thoroughly insures the rapid and proper mixing of the ingredients with one another.

A pair of particularly contoured mixing blades 38 are secured at their respective free ends to the respective free ends of the cross plate members 33 and 36 in a particular manner such that the blades 38 will lie in a substantially vertical plane and will be rotatable about a vertical axis to accomplish the desired mixing. In the ensuing detailed description of the mixing blades 38, reference will be had to one blade only. It is to be understood that such description will suffice for the other blade, since the blades 38 are substantialy identical in configuration and mounting on the cross plate members.

The mixing blade 38 is in the form of a flat strip of metal which may be stamped out of flat metal stock. The under surface of one end of the mixing blade 38 is secured to the top surface of one end of the bottom cross plate member 33 by welding or the like. As illustrated, it is preferred that the free end of the mixing blade 38 be spaced back from the side edge of the cross plate member 33 in order to provide a better mixing from the bottom upwardly in a spiral movement. The mixing will be further enhanced by beveling the side edge of the bottom cross plate member 33 lying forward of the end of the mixing blade 38 in engagement with the top surface thereof, as well as having the end edge of the mixing blade merging smoothly with the top surface of the bottom cross plate member. This arrangement will pro vide a continuously, smooth, contoured surface which will materially enhance the mixing characteristics of the blade 38. 1

The mixing blade 38 extends outwardly in substantially transverse relationship to the bottom cross plate member 33, and then curves upwardly gradually in a continuous, smooth configuration. The mixing blade 38 gradually curves inwardly as it continues upwardly such that in its general medial area the blade will begin to extend in the direction of the free end of the top cross plate member 36. The mixing blade 38 above its medial area possesses a gradually curving contour such that its flat face adjacent its free end extends directly upwardly in substantially I transverse relationship to thetop cross plate member 36. The top free end of the mixing blade 38 is secured to the free end edge of the top cross plate member, in transverse relationship thereto, by welding orthe like. Alternatively,, the end edge of the mixing blade may be secured to the under surface of the top cross plate member 36 at the end edge thereof, -in transverse relationship thereto, since the width of the top cross plate member 36 and the mixing blade 38 is substantially the same. The second blade 38 is positioned to the opposite end of each of the bottom cross plate member 33 and the top cross plate member 36 in identically the same manner as just described. This arrangement will result in a blade assembly 31 having opposed mixing blades outwardly and upwardly contoured in a form of a spiral which will result in a movement of the ingredients during mixing of upwardly from the bottom in'an inclined or spiral directron.

A journal bearing 39 is secured to the under surface of the base member in the immediate area of the aperture centrally positioned in the base member20. The journal 39 serves to insure rigidity and strength to the shaft 32 such that it will not come out of vertical alignment during rotation. Additionally, the journal 39 serves as means to provide lubrication-to the shaft 32.

The upper free end of the shaft 32 is provided with a gear wheel 40 whichis rigidly afiixed thereto in transverse relationship with respect to the vertical axis of the shaft 32. A worm gear 41 is mounted in operative relationship with respect to the geared perimeter of the;

gear wheel 40 and will serve uponits rotation to drive the gear wheel 4th and hence to rotate the vertical shaft 32.

b A gear casing 42 is provided to enclose the gear wheel 40 and the worm gear 41. In general, the gear casing 42 can be mounted directly to the base member 20 bybolts or the like. Alternatively, the gear casing 42 may be positioned above the base member 2%) and secured thereto by brackets or the like. The opposite end of the worm gear 41 extends through to the casing 42 and is provided with a pulley wheel 44 which is keyed thereto by a locking screw or the like.

An electric motor 45 is mounted above the gear casing, with the shaft 46 of the motor 45 extending in spaced horizontal alignment withthe worm gear 41. The motor 45 may be mounted by providing a cradle on top of the gear box 42 within which the motor 45 will be nested and retained by brackets or bolts. As illustrated, .the motor may also be mounted by means of brackets 43 secured to the base plate 29. It is to be understood, however, that any other means may be employed equally as Well to mount the motor 45. The shaft 46 of the electric motor is provided with a driving wheel 47 which is in vertical spaced alignment with respect to the pulley wheel 44 mounted on the end of the worm gear shaft. A pulley 48 connects the driving wheel 47 of the electric motor 45 to the pulley wheel =44 of the worm gear 41. The driving Wheel of the electric motor 45 will be smaller than the pulley Wheel 44 to provide a reduction or ratio differential in the rotation of the shaft 32 and the shaft of the electric motor. It is to be clearly understood that while an electric motor is the preferred means for driving the shaft 32 from a standpoint of economy, a gasoline motor or similar prime mover may be used equally as well. To the same extent, while a gear and worm gear assembly is the particular and preferred means for driving the shaft 32, it is to be clearly understood that any other gearing assembly which will result in the rotation of the shaft 32 may be employed equally as well.

In the operation of the mixer 10, the mixer is taken to the immediate area Where the mortar or plaster is to be used. The handle 24 is inserted in the brackets 22 and the mixer 10 is then placed in the mixing box. It is to be noted that the mixing boxes heretofore employed in the hand mixing of mortar or plaster ingredients has consisted of end walls which are outwardly curved. This type of construction does not work satisfactorily with the present invention, and thus a mixing box for best results must possess vertical side walls and end walls. The mixer apparatus 10 is placed, as hereinbefore indicated, within the mixing box A. As shown in FIG. 1,

the mixing box and the mixing apparatus are not dimensioned correctly insofar as the size of the two are concerned. Such disproportionate distortion is believed necessary in order to provide an accurate illustration of the mixing apparatus. Actually the mixing box will be much larger than that shown since the distance between the bottom cross plate 33 and the top cross plate 36 will generally correspond to the height of the mixing box.

T o utilize the mixing apparatus 10, the dry ingredients to be admixed are placed within the mixing box and the mixing apparatus started. The worker grasps the handle 24 and gradually moves it longitudinally back and forth through the mixing box until a proper mixing of the ingredients is obtained. During this mixing operation, byproviding the bottom cross plate 33'at a level almost touching the floor of the mixing box, the dry ingredients, due to the curvatureof the blade rotating about a vertical axis, will cause the ingredients to move upwardly and over in an inclined or spiral direction from the very bottom of the mixing box. This absolutely insures a proper mixing of the ingredients. Water is then slowly added'after the proper mixing has been obtained, and the vmovement of the mixing apparatus is repeated, with the completed mortar or plaster of the desired consistency being obtained in a very short time. When the mixing apparatus is desired to be transported, the handle24 is uncoupled and the plates 22 and the mixer may then be placed in the trunk of an automobile or small trunk and transported to the next job.

. While there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the 'art that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restricted of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

We claim: 1

1. A portable mixing device, for use in mixing two or more ingredients in the preparation of mortar, plaster, and the like in a flat bed mixing box, said mixing device comprising quadrilateral, vertically disposed frame means of lateral, rectilinear dimensions less than those of the mixing box, wheel means mounted on the bottom of said frame means to support same in a vertically disposed position and to permit same to be moved within the mixing box, rotatable vertical shaft means mounted within said frame means and extending therethrough substantially along the vertical central axis of said frame means in substantially vertical alignment therewith, the bottom free end of said shaft means terminating substantially adjacent the horizontal plane of contact between said wheel means and the mixing box, mixing means secured to said shaft means for rotation about a vertical axis, said mixing means including a pair of vertically disposed mixing blades in laterally spaced relationship from said shaft means and in diametrically opposed relationship to one another, each of said blade means being outwardly bowed with the concave face of each blade facing in the direction of rotation of said shaft means, each of said blades having its lower end terminating adjacent the horizontal plane of contact between the wheel means and the mixing box with each blade extending outwardly and upwardly from the lower end in substantially diagonal relationship to the long axis of said shaft means whereby, upon rotation of the mixing means, material to be mixed will move upwardly and over in a spiral direction from the bottom of the mixing box, gear means operatively connected to the upper end of said shaft means for rotation of same, horizontally extending support means mounted to said frame means adjacent the top thereof, power means mounted on said support means and connected to said gear means to drive same, and handle means connected to said frame means for moving same.

2. A portable mixing device, for use in mixing two or more ingredients in the preparation of mortar, plaster, and the like in a flat bed mixing box, said mixing device comprising quadrilateral, vertically disposed frame means of lateral, rectilinear dimensions less than those of the mixing box, wheel means mounted on the bottom of said frame means to support same in a vertically disposed position and to permit same to be moved within the mixing box, rotatable vertical shaft means mounted within said frame means and extending therethrough substantially along the vertical central axis of said frame means in substantially vertical alignment therewith, the bottom free end of said shaft means terminating substantially adjacent the horizontal plane of contact between said wheel means and the mixing box, top and bottom horizontal plate means secured to said vertical shaft means in transverse relationship thereto and extending outwardly on either side thereof and in vertically spaced relationship with one another, said bottom plate means being secured to said shaft means adjacent the bottom end thereof, said top and bottom plate means lying at substantially 90 with respect to one another, a pair of outwardly bowed mixing blades, each of which is secured at its top end to the end edge of said top member and at its bottom end to the flat surface of said bottom member adjacent the end thereof at an angle other than right angles to the longitudinal axis of said bottom member with the concave surface of each mixing blade facing the direction of rotation of said shaft means thereby defining a pair of curved blades lying in substantially diametrically opposed relationship and in a substantially vertical plane with respect to said shaft means and rotatable about said axis thereof, gear means operatively connected to the upper end of said shaft means for rotation of same, horizontally extending support means mounted to said frame means adjacent the top thereof, power means mounted on said support means and connected to said gear means to drive same, and handle means connected to said frame means for moving same.

3. A portable mixing device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame means includes four spaced corner posts and a plurality of horizontally-extending, verticallyspaced connecting means secured to the spaced corner posts to form the quadrilateral frame means and the wheel means including a wheel mounted to the bottom end of each of said corner posts.

4. A portable mixing device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said frame means includes four spaced corner posts and a plurality of horizontally extending, verticallyspaced connecting means secured to the spaced corner posts to form the quadrilateral frame means and the wheel means including a wheel mounted to the bottom end of each of said corner posts.

5. A mixing device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vertically disposed mixing blade means of said mixing means is vertically adjustable with respect to said shaft means.

6. A mixing device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said vertically disposed mixing blade means of said mixing means is vertically adjustable with respect to said shaft means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 282,224 Renfro July 31, 1883 582,095 Rogers May 4, 1897 776,383 Bryan Nov. 29, 1904 1,049,600 Rambeaud Jan. 7, 1913 1,593,706 Skoog July 27, 1926 2,032,678 Wegener Mar. 3, 1936 2,388,972 Hirschi Nov. 13, 1945 2,730,374 Rogers et al Jan. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 830,879 Germany Feb. 7, 1952 

